Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Thrailkill. Thank you, Senator. Public ownership within the State of Idaho represents 69 percent of the State's total land area. Much of this ownership, 21 million acres, is in the hands of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service. These national forests contain a wealth of resources, both eco nomically important and esthetically pleasing. Development of these resources on these lands has contributed and will continue to contribute to the quality of life within the State of Idaho. Certain parcels of these lands have been designated by Congress as wilderness. These lands possess unique scenic and recreational values. Congress has preserved 3.8 million acres as wilderness. This is the largest contiguous wilderness in the United States. Roadless areas represent a different situation. The areas defined by RARE II as roadless total 6.5 million acres, 31 percent of the total national forest land in the State of Idaho. The designated roadless areas in the State of Idaho do not differ in quality more than the surrounding roaded areas. But by unconscious management decisions, they have remained unroaded, hence unavailable to the public for multiple use. Senator, I urge that no additional acreage be added to the exist ing wilderness within the State of Idaho. Idaho, as stated before, has the largest wilderness within the con tiguous United States. Addition of more acreage to the wilderness system will mean less jobs for the people of Idaho. Return those RARE II roadless areas to multiple use to preserve a good and growing quality of life in the State of Idaho.